On Friday 5 June, 16 pupils from the Lycée Marie Curie in Strasbourg visited us with their German teacher to experience what it would be like to eat a meal if they were blind.

The theme of blindness has been sparking the interest of the pupils throughout the year: meetings, visits, etc.

    These motivated youngsters have even organised campaigns to be able to fund this project. When Mrs Laspeyre, their teacher, arrived at Ciarus, the team was immediately won over by this new project. To the extent that we have already organised meals for the Sports Association for the Blind and Handicap International at Le Plateau. Facilitators, kitchen staff, maintenance staff, everyone got involved to make this meal a success.

    Two partially sighted facilitators came to lend a hand with service. Working alongside them, darkening the room, setting it up, coming up with a menu to excite the taste buds with salty, sweet and spicy flavours, encouraging the pupils to put their impressions into words, this was our challenge.

    "We're not used to being blind! The most frustrating thing is when you put your fork in your mouth and there's nothing on it. You wondered where it had gone…"

    A "disco in the dark" brought the evening to a close: dancing and finding your way around the space, keeping your balance, it's quite a skill! Recognising coins and buying a Coke too!